Pitching in: GoFundMe campaign aims to recoup lost funding for senior dog rescue

The story began when Victoria Miles of North Vancouver spotted a photo on social media of a cocker spaniel rescued by a California animal caregiver. Her daughter, 21-year-old Daphne Nunuk, traced the dog back to Carolyn Graham, who operates a small sanctuary in Menifee, Calif. Nunuk’s parents flew south to meet Graham, brought the dog—named Nell—home and took her on a road trip up the coast; Nell arrived having recently undergone multiple surgeries and in poor health. Nell had spent years in a puppy mill and was abandoned at a shelter when she was about 13 because she was no longer useful for breeding. Graham took Nell into her care in 2023. Now 16, Nell is deaf but has recovered dramatically and enjoys a lively, healthy life with the Nunuk family. Graham’s sanctuary houses 25 senior dogs, but last month she lost a major funding source that had helped pay for their needs. Caring for the animals costs up to US$200 a month, and over the years Graham has covered much of those expenses herself. The sudden shortfall put the future care of the residents at risk. Wanting to help the dogs and give Graham time to find new funding, Nunuk launched a GoFundMe appeal titled “$25 for 25 dogs.” Her target is roughly $7,000, an amount she says would cover about five months of care and allow the sanctuary to continue providing end-of-life care or work toward adoptions. Nunuk has raised about half of that goal so far and forwards the donations directly to Graham. Nunuk says the relief these donations provide is meaningful for both the rescuer and the animals, and the campaign is intended to buy breathing room for the sanctuary while more stable support is sought. Readers who want to help can look for the “$25 for 25 dogs” GoFundMe campaign to contribute to the shelter’s immediate needs.